Charles L Barnes

TUSCOLA:          Charles L Barnes, 84, passed away Friday, September 19, 2014 at a local nursing facility. A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm Monday, September 22, 2014 at the First Baptist Church of Tuscola, officiated by Burtis Williams and DeWayne Bush, directed by Fry~Bartlett Funeral Home, Tuscola. A visitation will be held on Sunday, September 21, from 5 to 7pm at the funeral home.

Charles was born to Harold and Donnie Lois (Phillips) Barnes on November 16, 1929 in Hale Center. Upon graduation of high school, Charles went to work for Shell Oil and then Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. Charles joined the Army National Guard of Texas in 1948, serving for 21 years.

He worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone repairing cables and phones. Charles spent 37 years working for Southwestern Bell and retired in 1989 as a Special Services Supervisor. Charles worked in Lubbock, Sweetwater, and Abilene. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.

While working for Bell, he met and then married Sue, June 5, 1980 in Sweetwater. They are members of the First Baptist Church of Tuscola.

When Charles retired, he and Sue moved to the Jim Ned area and went to work for the next 10 years as a custom hay baler. Charles had passion for farming.     He was raised a Master Mason in Lubbock in 1970. Charles was a Past Master in the Lawn Masonic Lodge #1230, and in 1996 he was a District Deputy Grand Master. He was a Past Patron of Abilene Chapter #30, Order of the Eastern Star, and a member of the Waco and Big Country Scottish Rite, and a member of the Suez Shrine. Charles received the Golden Trowel award in May of 2014 from the Lawn Masonic Lodge #1230, one of the highest awards of Masonry.

Charles heard the call for “Football Friday Night” and officiated high school football games for 20 years. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, and golfer.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Sue of Tuscola; daughters Donna Robbins of San Angelo; Terri Dobbins of Katy; and Cindy Patterson and husband Jimmy of Edmond OK; brothers Harold Barnes of Needville, George Barnes of Potosi; sister Elizabeth Walker of Azel; step-daughter Barbara Ellis of Pearland; eight grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Myrtle Lois Blancet and Phyllis Sharp, and a brother Orville Barnes.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Texas Masonic Retirement Center 1501 W. Division St., Arlington, TX 76012.